'Footprints in the Snow' Hat-Making at Seven Hills School

Last month, I received an exciting email regarding certain second and third grade students at Seven Hills School (A private academy in Cincinnati, Ohio) who began the school year by celebrating Wolf Week in the Doherty Library. As part of their celebrations, they read 'Footprints in the Snow' and designed hats for Mr. Wolfe, their resident library wolf.

To my delight - and no doubt Mr. Wolfe's detriment - all these wonderful creations arrived at my door the following week. Thank you to all the highly talented hat-makers and milliners. I'm sure Mr. Nice Wolf from 'Footprints in the Snow' would love them, especially the tasty-looking duck ones! My niece has kindly modelled those that were not photographed as well. 

Also, I would like to say a huge thank you to Mrs. Linda Wolfe for her inspirational role as teacher and librarian in this - her 47th year - at the school (Amazing!)

I am really sorry about the two pictures that can not be seen here... Unfortunately some of the files were damaged and couldn't be recovered. Maybe the flash drive was chewed up by a disgruntled Mr. Wolfe...! ;)

Arvon 2018

Last week, I had a wonderful time teaching a 5-day Picture Book course together with the brilliant author/illustrator Alexis Deacon ("Slow Loris","Beegu","I am Henry Finch") at the Arvon writers retreat in Totleigh Barton, Devon.


https://www.arvon.org/


It is my third time returning to the beautiful 16-century thatched manor house and every time, I come back feeling impassioned and newly inspired. There was a brilliant mix of talented participants and my co-tutor Alexis is an extremely gifted, wise, thoughtful and knowledgeable teacher.

The week involved a lot of creative exercises, sharing of work, discussions, idea development, delicious food and bonding over some wine or star-gazing. On the third night, the wonderful author/illustrator Katherina Manolessou joined us to talk about her work.


You can find out more about both Alexis and Katherina's work here:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexis-Deacon/e/B001ITVY20

https://vimeo.com/169847249

http://www.lemoneyed.com/


All in all, it really was a fantastic week and the centre staff were brilliant from start to finish. I am looking forward to seeing what exciting work/publications may come from those who participated. Thank you to everyone and I hope to go back again in future!

NEW! Activity Books・アクティビティブック

New English Language Learning activity books are now available in Japan!

Published by MPI, they are based on my previous books "Goody Goody Gumdrops" and "Jack and Zak". There are lots of fun activities inside (Stickers too!) and these books provide a good base for English language learning for young children.


子供の英語力を伸ばす、アクティビティブックが出版されました！
mpiさん出版、Goody Goody GumdropsとJack and Zakの絵本をベースに作られ、楽しく勉強になるアクティビティが盛りだくさんです。たくさんのシールも入っていますよ。
是非、本屋さんで探してみて下さいね！

Open the Window

"Open the Window" is published by Froebel House, South Korea. Part 2 of the Think in English series. Here is a few spreads from the book:

Belated Announcement

My first child, Cal was born in April 2015. Since then, I realise that I have completely neglected my blog and any updating of news. Understandably, there has not been as much to report but I was shocked to discover that my last entry was over 2 years ago!

Huge apologies to anybody that has been kind enough to visit my site and I promise to get back to posting regular updates again. In the meantime, here is a picture of Cal (Now two-years-old).

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year 2015!

Illustrators For War Child

I am donating an original spread from THE GREAT SHEEP SHENANIGANS to be auctioned for "Illustrators for War Child" - a charity auction set up and put together by the wonderful Illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson. The auction will run until Sunday 7 September 2014 on ebay and includes the following brilliant artists:

Alison Murrey, Axel Scheffler, Babette Cole, Cally Johnson-Isaacs, Chris Haughton, Christine Pym, Clara Vulliamy, Clayton Junior, Clive Mcfarland, Daisy Hirst, David Melling, David Roberts, Ed Vere, Elys Dolan, Gabriel Alborozo, Guy Parker Rees, Gwen Millward, Helen Hancock,Holly SurpliceHolly Swain, Jane Porter, Janis Goodman, Jenny Bowers, Jim Field, Jo Lodge, Joe Berger, Jonathan Woodward, Katharine McEwen, Katherina Manolessou, Kevin Waldron, Leigh Hodgkinson, Louise Yates, Mark Chambers, Marta Altes, Mia Nilsson, Monika Forsberg, Nadia Shireen, Nicky O'Byrne, Nicola Killen, Nicola Pontin, Nikki Dyson, Paul Thurlby, Penny Dale, Rebecca Cobb, Sharon King-Chai, Sophie Allsopp, Steve May, Steven Lenton, Tim Hopgood, Tom McLaughlin, Tor Freeman, Viviane Schwarz, Yasmeen Ismail,Yokococo

The website is:

http://illustratorsforwarchild.weebly.com/   

Ebay auction site:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/nosycrow/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

Please take a look as there are lots of amazing pieces on there!

 

The Three Little Pigs

A new version of The Three Little Pigs (For First Readers) is now available from Marks and Spencer.

It was originally published as part of eight classic fairy tales collection (Below) by Parragon.

It's nice to see it as a separate book of it's own with the original front cover - I hope you will take a look next time you're in M&S!

TGBH launches today!!!

Our new book THE GREAT BALLOON HULLABALLOO is published today!

http://meimatsuoka.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-great-balloon-hullaballoo.html

Please do check it out if you are near a bookshop and I hope you enjoy it!

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW in Turkey

Children at a school in Izmir, Turkey have put together and performed a play based on "Karda Ayak Izleri" - the Turkish translation of my book "Footprints in the Snow"; published by Andersen Press UK (and by Kir Cicegi in Turkey).

The book has been really well received in the country; with 400 copies being bought by the Turkish Ministry of Culture for public libraries. I am overwhelmed by the fact that "Footprints..." was chosen as the story that they wanted to perform for their end-of-year play - they even printed and made all of their costumes by themselves!

Thank you so much to fellow author Arslan Sayman for directing their performance (And for the pictures) and of course a huge thanks to the children themselves!

Booktrust News

THE GREAT BALLOON HULLABALLOO has been listed as one of Booktrust's "Books We Like: July 2013"!

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/children/books-we-like/


It is due to be published on: 1 AUGUST 2013

Vom Wolf, der lieb sein wollte

I am VERY excited to announce that "Footprints in the Snow" is about to be published in Germany this August!

Here is a brilliant animation created by Verlag Urachhaus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJYtlTrL6bQ 

Für all meine deutsch sprechenden Freunde...
Hier ist eine Animation von meinem in August erscheinenden Buch!

Writers' Room

I have an interview on the Free Word website:

http://www.freewordonline.com/content/2013/04/wr-mei-matsuoka/


"Free Word is an international centre for literature, literacy and free expression. We aim to push boundaries to promote, protect and democratise the power of the word for creative and free expression".


Thank you to Sam for a wonderful interview!

ARVON - with Tessa Strickland & David Roberts!

Arvon   Mon 13th - Sat 18th May 2013

 

Co-Tutor: Tessa Strickland (Barefoot Books)
Guest: David Roberts (Author/Illustrator)

Renowned for its five-day residential creative writing courses, Arvon has launched its 2013 programme of courses and I will be Co-Tutor in residence between the 13th and 18th May with the brilliant Tessa Strickland (aka:Stella Blackstone).

 

The week will take place in a beautiful writing house set in the inspiring countryside of North Devon, and include morning workshops, one-to-one tutorials and plenty of time and space to write. Arvon also run a grant system, for those who would not be able to afford the full course fee, around a quarter of participants receive help in this way, and the amount of grant can be as high as the full fee.

For more information on our 'Writing for Children' week:

http://www.arvonfoundation.org/writing-for-children-5


This year we are hoping for many aspiring illustrators to sign up, as well as children's writers (Or both, of course!)

So if you are, or know of anybody else that might be interested in signing up, please spread the word. It really is a wonderfully inspiring, creative and fun week in an absolutely beautiful setting - and places are limited!

BOOKABOO is back!

...and THE GREAT SHEEP SHENANIGANS will be aired on Sunday 24 MARCH 2013 at 7:25am!

It will be shown on ITV1 and CITV.

BOOKABOO is a popular award-winning television series, featuring a book-loving rock star puppy and a different celebrity guest reader each episode.

www.bookaboo.co.uk/

The new series sees Bookaboo on his first international tour in Canada and the reader for this episode is Canadian comedian and author Sean Cullen.

The Great Balloon Hullaballoo

By Peter Bently       Illustrated by Mei Matsuoka

Our new book 'The Great Balloon Hullaballoo' is finally finished!

 

 

It is due to be published later this year.

(I'm sorry, the picture isn't the actual thing - just one of the proof copies)

 

The third in a series of 'The Great...' book collaborations between Peter and I, Hullaballoo is set in outer space with lots of animal and alien characters.

 

 

Previous Titles:

The Great Dog Bottom Swap

The Great Sheep Shenanigans

 

犬のおしりの大事件

The Great Dog Bottom Swap has been published in Japan!

「いぬのおしりのだいじけん」 ほるぷ出版さんから出版されました！ 日本語訳は、とてもすてきな灰島かりさんが翻訳して下さいました。 良かったら是非ご覧になってくださいね： http://www.holp-pub.co.jp/

Stratford Literary Festival

Bank Holiday Monday 7th May Despite the rainy weather, lots of enthusiastic youngsters came along to our Family Fun Day at the Stratford Literary Festival - and made some fantastic, creative & colourful woolly sheep.

It was lovely to see Sarah McIntyre (Thank you to her, Annie and Zoe for the pictures) and to meet lots of new people. Thank you to everybody who came along and a special thank you to the really kind person who helped me by cutting out all the cardboard rings, which must have taken him absolutely ages!

Oxford Literary Festival

Sunday 25th March 2012

Oxford Literary Festival - Drawathon